, 1887-12-11

decidedly, and I know I caIG complete
the conquest with my persuasive pow
ers."
Il congratulate you on the certainty q
Success, Excellenz " said Montgrc. hit
tr,ly.
Thank YOU: a diplomat is always
more skillful who knows how "a IN Ike
Us" "f every advantage. 1t woull have
b~en painful in the extreme for uiC to be
obliged to return without accomplishing
my undertaking, bccause-entrc nous
my dear Montgre, it is the special wish Of
III" queen"
oh, it isl" calculated poor Mont re,
dcSpoudently.
VIII You go with me TO meet the
ladies:
No, thank you. Excellenz: / have
some work TO do"
Work: You have neither hook ror
writing material; do You call this dolce
far niente w~orl?''
Il am thinking, Excellenz-a task that
is always performed without instruments
of any kind
You want to think, do YOU? Well,
then, l wont disturb your meditations
any longer. Bon jour, my dear Mont
81 M Jun
When his excellency had disappeared
behind the hedgerow, Montgre laughed
bitterly to himself. That, then, was the
nan who was selected for Edith's Irus-
band; that cynical was chosen
for her, the blooming child, full of soul
and life; to have to live with him through
the desert of a loveless marriage; the
leep, noble and confiding nature to be-
come assimilated to hat of such n crea-
turel Must he let it take place, he who
would readily give up his life to save her
painI Must he allow her future to be
one of abject misery, when he knew that
she loved him, although not n word Of
love had passed between them?
Foolish questions! As if it were pos
sible to have it otherwise! She was a
member Of an old, royal family, the
heiress of an ancient name and n ~princely
fortune, he n poor dependent private tutor,
the last scion of a race of fanatics
who, according to his excellency, were
stupid enough to ruin themselves and
their descendants to crafty Il fantasy
he to hope for such happiness? If the
queen wished especially that the ancient
trees in her domain should grow to-
gether, what did it matter if the comtesse
N the descendant of the emigrant did
love one another, and were consumed
with n longing desire, and the chains
thrown around them we're unbearable?
The fates had directed their ways through
life; for them there was no meeting point
none whatever.
MontSre's glance fell accidentally upon
the parallel lines which he had drawn in
the sane for A%lphonse.
Parallel lines are those which extend
indefinitely always the same distance
apart" he said suddenly to himself.
Our fate in n geometrical figure"
So much was he taken up with his
gloomy reflections that he did not notice
the young lady of remarkable beauty of
face and grace of figure who was steal
ing carefully on tip toe from behind the
shrubbery ut his side, with a roguish
smile of innocent amusement playing
around her pretty lips.
Good morning, Herr Philosopher"
''Comtesse Edith you here?" Montgre
cried, almost speechless with surprise at
seeing so suddenly the object OF his
dreams before him, her hands stretched
out toward him in her anxiety to reach
him unseen.
Your morning greeting, sir; you have
forgotten your politeness, " she said, Jest
ingly. you remind me forcibly of the
words of the wise Archimedes, of SYRIA
case, Don't destroy my circle What
deep problem 10 those lines represent
that render you so oblivious to everything
around you!''
He looked into the deep grayish blue
eyes which were gazing into his so in
1uirinGly.
at is a problem, comtesse, that I de-
spair of ever solving
And may not the pupil share the
masters trouble?" she asked, iestingly,
taking. u seat beside him. Explain to
me. please, the meaning of these lines"
''You! Shall 1 tell you?'
''Oh. l am incapable of comprehending
1t, am |! beg your pardon, " she inter
rupted.
''on the contrary, comtesse, you of
all persons can understand it-you alone.
These lines
We'll, proceed" she said, resting her
charming little head meditatively on her
hand.
These lines, continued Montgre, hes
itatingly at first, then speaking more
rapidly and desperately, "are the embod-
imcnt, in my mind, of two animated
beings, wonderfully similar in nature,
thoughts and feelings-as congenial as
two beings could be. A consuming de-
sire fills them both to approach one
another, to unite in a blissful unity, but
it docs not lie in their power to satisfy
the inward longing. Some inscrutable
law-God or the fates-has laid out the
ways that they can't forsake, although
in following them they never will be
able to meet. In the customary formula
these are termed parallel lines, which ex-
tend indefinitely i'll the same direction,
but which must always be kept the same
distance apart; and SO they must be rec.
onciled to the inevitable, and conceal
from the world their cravings, and go on
alone through the desert of eternal
space"
THAT is indeed a gloomy picture you
draw" she said.
The bright winsome face cloudcd for
an instant as she looked down thought
fully at the ground. Then she shook her
waving locks and said, smiling:
''Oh, no, you are wrong-a very poor
figure of speech. Why" she said, posi-
lively, IF the lines were really animate
beings, then they would have minds of
their own and thny ro,,lI ooeiI,. r,.,t;F-